Police

Oakland to Pay $12M to Motorcyclist Hit by Patrol Car

The City of Oakland, Calif., will pay $12 million to a motorcyclist who lost his leg after a police officer ran a red light in his patrol car. Oakland City Council approved the funds earlier this month, before the trial was scheduled to begin in July. To date, it is one of the city’s largest payouts ever, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The incident took place in March 2017, according to city documents. The plaintiff, Elliott Van Fleet, sustained serious injuries after colliding with an Oakland police vehicle, including the amputation of his lower leg.

The East Bay Express reports that $3 million of the settlement will come from city funds, and $9 million will be covered by the city’s insurance carrier.